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Biomedical subjects

E Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to E Pinto.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cell kinetic patterns in early gastric cancer.

Early gastric cancers (EGC) may be subdivided into 2 groups by means of the use of mitotic index, apoptotic index and cell density: EGCs with high cell turnover and low cell density, which show high cell dissociation and, more frequently, lymph node invasion; EGCs with low cell turnover and high cell density. The same parameters discriminate among intestinal type tumors, when separately considered from diffuse ones. No correlation is noted of these 2 groups with transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor and p53 expression, gross type, entity of neoangiogenesis, and submucosal invasion.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

Cell proliferation, cell death and angiogenesis in early and advanced gastric cancer of intestinal type.

Mitotic (MI) and apoptotic index (AI), the sum of the 2, i.e., the turnover index (TI), tumor neovascularization (NV) and p53 expression, as well as tumor grading and node status, are evaluated in early and advanced gastric-cancer cases. T1 cases show significantly less frequent lymph-node invasion and lower tumor grade, and, taken together, have significantly lower MI, Al and TI and higher values of NV than the T2-3 cases. However, correlation of the variables shows that the above-mentioned discrimination is due to a minority of T1 cases (11 out of 33), while the majority of them are allocated in the same 95% ellipse of tolerance of the T2-3 cases.

Azure Stains↗
PubMed1997

Distinct haplotype in non-Ashkenazi Gaucher patients with N370S mutation.

A new polymorphism, in intron 7 of glucocerebrosidase gene, has been identified in Gaucher Disease patients. It seems to appear only in Pv1.1- alleles bearing the N370S mutation. This new sub-haplotype was only identified in Portuguese patients, of origins spanning all of the Portuguese continental territory. This finding indicates that, in the Portuguese, mutation N370S has existed in the context of two slightly different haplotypes and thus must be relatively ancient.

Gaucher Disease↗
PubMed1997

[An epidemic of asthma caused by soybean in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)].

Twenty-six epidemics of asthma occurred in Barcelona between 1981 and 1987 in relation to inhalation of soy dust from grain silo unloading in the harbor. No further epidemics occurred after filters were installed, until a 1994 outbreak of asthma due to soy was detected in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, a city on the outskirts of Barcelona. We describe 9 patients who presented with acute asthma attacks of sudden onset within a time span of 135 minutes. Counts of total IgE and IgE specific to soy extract were analyzed in all patients. Skin prick tests confirmed exposure to soy in all cases. Atmospheric levels of alcoholic fractions of soy particles (beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol) registered in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat were higher than those detected in Barcelona. We confirmed that soy had been unloaded in the harbor the same day, and that climatic conditions favored the movement of air from the port toward the city of L'Hospitalet. We postulate the need to periodically review preventive measures given the potential severity of the such epidemics.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

[Guided anti-arrhythmia therapy by programmed ventricular stimulation. A case of arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle].

Right ventricle dysplasia (RVD) is a rare clinical entity, described in young people, and a known cause of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. A genetic transmission has been suggested from the study of familial cases. The disease is characterized by a dilated right ventricle, cardiac infiltration with fatty tissue and focal fibrosis. Lymphoplasmocyte infiltrates are documented. The diagnosis is based on electrocardiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. The authors report a case of a young woman with symptomatic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in whom the diagnosis of RVD was established. Programmed ventricular stimulation was used to reproduce the clinical VT and to test the efficacy of the anti-arrhythmic drug therapy. The diagnosis criteria and therapeutic options are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Placental site trophoblastic tumour: the value of transvaginal colour and pulsed Doppler sonography (TV-CDS) in its diagnosis: case report.

The clinical, transvaginal sonography and colour flow mapping of one patient with placental site trophoblastic tumour is presented. Colour Doppler documented a marked increase in uterine vascularity, characterised by low diastolic flow suggestive of low resistance blood flow, without regression after completion of apparently successful chemotherapy, when negative beta-hCG plasma levels were obtained. Surgical treatment was based upon our experience with colour Doppler assessment of gestational trophoblastic tumours and a review of the literature. This case suggests that TV-CDS, performed serially, is very useful in monitoring patients during chemotherapy and in detecting residual tumour, and should greatly increase the accurancy of diagnosis of PSTT.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Clinical, enzymatic, and molecular characterisation of a Portuguese family with a chronic form of GM2-gangliosidosis B1 variant.

Mutations in the hexosaminidase A gene (HEXA) causing the B1 variant of GM2-gangliosidosis result in the presence of a mutant enzyme protein with a catalytically defective alpha subunit. A rare and panethnically distributed mutation, transition G533A (Arg178His), is known to be a common allele among Portuguese patients with the subacute phenotype. We now report the presence of an Arg178His allele in three Portuguese sibs with a chronic form of the disease, who carry the transition G755A (Arg252His) on the second allele. This novel mutation is the first B1 allele to be associated with an adult phenotype.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 in patients with gastric cancer].

The serum level determination of tumor markers in gastric cancer, more than other neoplasia, presents, many difficulties for the impossibility to identify specific molecules released during neoplastic growth. In this research the authors report their experience on the preoperative determination of two tumor markers diffusely used in gastrointestinal neoplasia: CEA and CA19-9. The study has been done in order to establish relations between the expression of markers and some considered variables. The values have been studied on 113 patients. A total of 24% sensibility was reported for CEA while 48% for CA19-9 applying cut-off levels of 10 mg/ml and 37 U/ml respectively. The results have shown a better sensibility of CA19-9 with a statistical significance between the expression of this marker and stage of disease (from 21% to 66%), lymph nodal involvement (from 31% to 59%), histologic grading (from 39% to 48%) and surgical purpose (from 37% to 78%) (p < 0.001).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

[A case of pancreatic somatostatinoma].

The authors describe a case of somatostatinoma localized in the body and tail of the pancreas. They emphasize the rarity of this finding (only 33 cases with certain pancreatic localization are reported in literature) and the absence of a distinctive syndrome, which could direct to an early diagnosis, the authors are in doubt about the real incidence of this disease. The absence, generally, of a distinctive syndrome, the poor condition of these patient and then the lack of surgical treatment and histological examination, could lead to a lower valuation. Delayed diagnosis and then the local extension of this neoplasm often make surgical treatment vain. Nevertheless since somatostatinoma has more possibilities of radical resection than pancreatic cancer, it's required to know its features and course so to increase possibilities of an early diagnosis. In fact disregarding surgical treatment, the survival of these patients, one year after diagnosis, is about 48%. This result is better than the survival of patients with pancreatic or biliary duct cancers. Current diagnostic procedures are reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Renal masses in the neonate.

Abdominal masses are frequent in newborn infants, two thirds being renal in origin. After thorough palpation of the abdomen, cystic masses must be differentiated from solid masses by ultrasound examination. The common benign cystic masses include hydronephrosis, multicystic dysplasia, polycystic disease, and adrenal hemorrhage. Solid masses include renal vein thrombosis, a renal ectopic kidney, or horseshoe kidneys. Occasionally, a renal mass may be malignant and correspond to congenital mesoblastic nephroma, Wilms' tumor, or fetal hamartoma. Whatever the nature of the renal mass, early intervention may save the kidney or the patient.

Cysts↗
PubMed1995

[Restrictive myocardiopathy in children].

Four children, three males and one female, aged 1.5 months to 11 years, with restrictive cardiomyopathy are described. One had patent ductus arteriosus in association. Hepatomegaly, abnormal second heart sound and signs of pulmonary venous congestion in chest X-ray were the most consistent clinical findings. Diagnosis was based on echocardiographic findings, cardiac catheterization data and results of pathology. The most frequent echocardiographic sign was the enlargement of both atria but with the ventricles within normal size and normal systolic function. Abnormalities in second phase of the ventricular filling were recorded in 2D-echo Doppler and cardiac catheterization, where a dip and plateau morphology of ventricular tracings was recorded. Metabolic studies performed in two children were normal, and any child had hypereosinophilia. Two children died, one was lost for follow-up and another is asymptomatic. Remarks on medical and surgical management are made.

Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive↗
PubMed1995

[Medical evaluation of the climacteric patient].

A pilot program with primary care physicians was established in Clinica Cuauhtémoc y Famosa, focused to evaluate women older than 35 years with climateric symptoms. This program included a survey, a complete gynecological examination with Pap smears, ultrasound pelvic examination and mamography. Also, blood samples were collected for cholesterol, tryglycerides, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. An ECG, bone densitometry of the radius and X-rays of the vertebral column were obtained. This group was formed by 69 women with an age media of 50 years (SD 7.6 years, median 49 years). The survey disclosed that 34/65 women had been hysterectomized, and only 34/64 had received antitetanic immunization in the last 10 years. A preexistent chronic disease occurred in 36/59 women, these were diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or degenerative osteoarthritis. Alcohol consumption was recorded in 5/66 women and tabac consumption in 9/66 women, and 32/68 women accepted to be sedentary. Laboratory examinations disclosed hypercholesterolemia in 19/66 women and hypertryglyceridemia in 8/64 women. Osteopenia was detected in 33/60 women. This findings support a systematic plan to provide medical assistance for women in this age, specially if previous epidemiologycal studies have disclosed that coronary disease is the main cause of death for women older than 50 years in this region, that also belongs to the area of highest incidence of diabetes.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1994

Cyclosporine enhances theophylline neurotoxicity in rats.

Treatment with cyclosporine may be associated with adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects as well as with the potentiation of effects of certain other drugs. In particular, theophylline-induced seizures, which are often fatal and occur unpredictably over a wide range of serum theophylline concentrations, may be precipitated. To study this interaction, adult rats that were injected with cyclosporine or placebo (50 mg/kg in a single dose or on each of four consecutive days) received a constant infusion of theophylline (2 mg/min iv) until the onset of maximal seizures. At that time, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain tissue samples were obtained for theophylline concentration determinations by HPLC, as well as for measurement of several biochemical parameters in the serum. Consecutive cyclosporine administration (but not a single dose) reduced serum protein levels. There was a small increase in theophylline sensitivity after a single dose of cyclosporine. The CSF theophylline concentrations at the onset of seizures were 215 +/- 10 vs 202 +/- 5 mg/L (P < 0.04); however, sequential cyclosporine treatment resulted in significant lowering of the CSF theophylline concentrations required to produce convulsions (231 +/- 8 vs 191 +/- 10, P < 0.001). Likewise, the drug concentrations at the onset of convulsions in both the brain and serum were significantly lower in cyclosporine-treated rats than in control animals. Thus, cyclosporine treatment may be a predisposing factor for theophylline toxicity and increase the risk for generalized seizures.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1994

Differential effects of various antiinflammatory drugs on theophylline neurotoxicity.

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate whether antiinflammatory drugs affect the pharmacodynamics of theophylline-induced seizures. Adult male Lewis rats were treated with either dexamethasone (DEX), hydrocortisone (HYD), ibuprofen (IBU), or mefenamic acid (MFA), for 4 consecutive days. On the fourth day they received a constant infusion of theophylline (2 mg/min IV) until the onset of maximal seizures. Then, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained for theophylline concentration determinations by HPLC. It was found that pretreatment with the corticosteroids DEX and HYD elevated the CSF theophylline concentration required to induce maximal seizures in comparison to the untreated rats (242 +/- 6, 232 +/- 6, and 203 +/- 10 mg/l, respectively, n = 10, p < 0.05). MFA also increased the CSF theophylline concentration at that end-point in comparison to the controls (p < 0.01), whereas pretreatment with IBU had no effect (280 +/- 10 MFA, 225 +/- 9 IBU vs. 220 +/- 8 controls, n = 12). The data suggests that concomitant treatment with antiinflammatory drugs, together with theophylline, do not increase the risk for theophylline-induced seizures. Moreover, in certain cases they may elevate the seizure threshold and protect against these hazardous episodes.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1994

The effect of immunosuppression by total-body irradiation on the pharmacodynamics of centrally active drugs in rats.

The aim of this investigation was to assess whether immunosuppression induced by total-body irradiation (TBI) affects the pharmacodynamics of centrally acting drugs. Female Sabra rats were exposed to a single dose of gamma irradiation (5.3 Gy). Four days later, when both the cellular and the humoral immune responses were impaired, they received an i.v. infusion of either phenobarbital (0.8 mg/min), ethanol (16.3 mg/min), pentylenetetrazol (PTZ; 0.618 mg/min), or theophylline (as aminophylline; 2 mg/min). The infusion was stopped at the onset of the pharmacologic end point--loss of righting reflex for the depressant agents or maximal seizures for the stimulant drugs--and the concentrations of the neuroactive drugs at that point were determined. In the ethanol experiment, blood samples were also taken upon awakening. The radiation-induced immunosuppression significantly decreased the CNS sensitivity to the depressant action of both phenobarbital and ethanol as indicated by the higher CSF phenobarbital concentrations required to induce sleep in the irradiated rats versus controls (156 +/- 4 vs 133 +/- 5 mg/L, respectively; P < 0.05), and the higher serum ethanol concentrations at the onset and offset of sleep in the immunosuppressed group versus control values (4.6 +/- 0.2 and 1.68 +/- 0.01 vs 3.79 +/- 0.17 and 1.32 +/- 0.9 mg/mL, respectively; P < 0.04). Exposure to TBI did not alter the pharmacodynamics of the two convulsant drugs (theophylline and PTZ).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Early gastric cancer: report on 142 patients observed over 13 years.

Between 1977 and 1989, 958 patients were admitted for gastric carcinoma to the Second Department of Surgery, University of Siena, Italy. Of these, 142 (15%) had early gastric cancer. The diagnosis of this form of cancer has increased from 7% in 1977 to 22% in 1989. Following a detailed analysis of the clinical data and diagnostic techniques, it can be concluded that endoscopy is a far better method for diagnosis than x-ray. The data presented in the present paper strongly support this conclusion. Tumors were classified according to the Japanese Research Society Committee on Histological Classification of Gastric Cancer. The five-year survival rate which we have obtained is 89%, slightly lower than that of Japanese authors, but higher than that reported by other western authors. Lesions confined to the mucosa were observed in 75 patients (52.8%) while those involving the submucosa were observed in 67 patients (47.2%), with survival rates of 94 and 85%, respectively. Lymph node involvement was present in 14 cases (9.8%), with primary lymph nodes (N1) in 11 cases (7.7%) and secondary lymph nodes (N2) in three (2.1%). The five-year survival rates, with respect to lymph node involvement, was 57% in the presence of lymph node metastases and 93% in their absence (P < 0.001). The lesions were frequently found to be localized in the lower third of the stomach (106 cases, 74.6%). Patients with such lesions had a survival rate of 93%, a significant difference from those cases with lesions localized in the middle or upper third of the stomach (P < 0.05). The surgical treatment preferred in our Institute, has been subtotal gastrectomy associated with lymphadenectomy R1 and R2, leaving total gastrectomy for lesions localized in the upper third of the stomach.

Adenocarcinoma↗